Distributed Learning is not Homeschooling
Distributed learning and homeschooling are legally different and represent two completely different choices available to students in British Columbia.
Distributed learning is a funded educational program that meets the requirements and expectations of any other school in the province.
Children who are homeschooled are registered, not enrolled, in a school district or independent school. Being registered means they:
- are not required to be taught or supervised by a British Columbia certified teacher;
- are not required to meet Ministry learning outcomes;
- do not receive Ministry inspections or certification of their educational programs; and
- do not receive a British Columbia Dogwood graduation certificate.
To find out more, refer to the Ministry of Education website regarding the distinctions between distributed learning and homeschooling.
School districts and independent schools incorrectly referred to their funded distributed learning schools as programs for home learners. Understandably, this causes a lot of confusion for parents.
If you’re interested in homeschooling, there is more information at the BC Home Learners’ Association website.
Some questions to ask to determine whether your child is a registered homeschooler or enrolled in distributed learning:
How much funding does the district receive for my child?
If a district receives full student funding (more than $250), the student is not being homeschooled.
Is my child registered or enrolled?
If the child is registered, they are homeschooled. If they are enrolled in a school, they are in distributed learning. The word enrolled signifies major differences in expectations and legal requirements.
What is the role of the parent?
In distributed learning, teachers must supervise the student’s education and lead the planning for the student's educational program. The teacher, not the parent, is responsible for the planning, teaching, assessing and reporting of the student's educational program. The parent's role is as a facilitator for student learning - they do not replace the teacher's role. The teacher may not delegate, and the parent may not assume the teacher's job of planning, teaching, assessing and reporting.
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